All Posts in "Day: March 7, 2024"

Court Remands Three Over Ibadan Explosion

Mohammed Shosanya

A Federal High Court in Ibadan, Wednesday ordered that a woman and two men be remanded for their roles in the January 16 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.

One Ramatu Camara, aged 47, Ganiu Malik, 20 and Abubakar Samasa 64 were charged with conspiracy, use of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, stock piling of radio active materials and dispersal of biological weapons.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Ekerete Akpan
ordered that they should be remanded in the Agodi correctional centre.

He adjourned the suit until April 11 for hearing in their bail applications.

The police prosecution, Mr Michael Ojeah had earlier told the court that Camara, Malik and Samasa were facing a five-count charge

He added that the defendants and others currently at large, committed the crime about 7.30 p.m on January 16, at Aderinola of Dejo-Oyelese Street, Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija Ibadan, Oyo State.

He said the defendants stored radio active materials inside a building which exploded and led to the death of a 65 year-old woman known as Bolanle Badmus and 13 others.

He informed the court that he was prepared to present his case.

The defense counsel, Mr Adeola Adebayo, prayed the court for a short adjournment in order to file some applications.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened the provisions of sections 26, 42 (A) and (B), 43(1) (A) and (2) (C) 1 (A) 58 (1) (A) of the Terrorism, Prohibition and Prevention Act 2022.

admin by — March 7, 2024 in Law/Human Rights 0
Court Remands Suspected Killer Of Ekiti Monarchs

Mohammed Shosanya

The Magistrate Court in Ekiti State has remanded one Bubuga Lede, 25,who was suspected to be one of the killers of the two traditional rulers in the state.

The Magistrate, O. F. Bamidele ordered that the defendant be remanded at the correctional custody in Ado-Ekiti for one month, pending legal advice from Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin and the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, Oba Samuel Olatunde Olusola were murdered on January 29, between Oke-Ako and Ipao-Ekiti, when returning from a security meeting.

The Police prosecutor, Inspector Osuolale Yomi told the Magistrate Court that the defendant, represented by Barrister Olusoji Oladele, is suspected to have committed an offence of conspiracy to kidnap and attempt to murder the two monarchs.

He also alleged that the defendant attempted to kidnap Oba Samuel Adebayo Fatoba and his driver, Bamidele Ibikunle Joseph.

According to him,the defendant was arrested in Ikole-Ekiti on January 29, with offensive weapons, adding that the offence is punishable under section 280, 241 and 234 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021.

Osuolale disclosed that the duplicate case file has been forwarded to the Ekiti State Directorates of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

Magistrate O. F. Bamidele adjourned the case till April 24, for further mention.

admin by — March 7, 2024 in Law/Human Rights 0
Luggage Issues Stopped Me From Boarding Crashed Flight, Says Wigwe’s PA

Simon Faleye, the Personal Assistant to the late Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, has recounted how he missed being on the helicopter that killed his boss, wife, son and business associate, Abimbola Ogunbajo.

He spoke while mourning and eulogising Wigwe at the Night of Tributes on Wednesday night.

He said he was supposed to fly in the chopper but later decided to accompany their luggage by road since the chopper could not carry it.

He said he got the approval of Wigwe who applauded the idea as a brilliant one.

He headed to Vegas by road with the luggage while Wigwe, his wife, son and Mr Ogunbajo boarded the chopper to the same destination.

On his way to Vegas, Faleye tried calling his boss and the others on the chopper, but none of the calls pulled through.

He added:“Five of us embarked on that journey. I remember Mr Bimbo chatted me and said he wants to come with us, it was a Tuesday. And I told him my boss journey is not always straightforward. Sometimes, you can get in the air and divert somewhere else, and he said he was going to wait.

“I said he was still going to Abuja that day, and maybe he’ll be leaving later in the midnight and he said he was going to wait.

“I still tried to let him understand that we will be in London Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, he said he will stay in his house and wait. I really don’t know why I was trying to convince him not, I don’t know, and we all went on the journey.

“We flew from London to Palm Springs. I remember, in the middle of the air, I walked up to him. I said sir, how comfortable are you flying chopper at night? I’ve never done it before. And he said a word, he said, This is America, they have navigation systems for flying chopper at night, and I went back to my seat.”

“As they were loading the luggages, this thought started playing in my mind that, okay, you will fly chopper, one hour you are there. The next three and a half hours, the luggages are not going to come. Will I go to bed, no. I still have to sit down and wait for these luggages to come.

“I was like so, why not just go with the luggages and get there and deliver to him and others in the room. Like I said, I always reason in the line of duty. And I went up to him, I said, sir, I think its safer and will be secure for me to just ride and bring the luggage to you. He said, brilliant idea, and I said safe flight.”

admin by — March 7, 2024 in News 0
Police Arrest 152 Kidnapers,93 Armed Robbers In Two Weeks

Mohammed Shosanya

Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) attached to FID-IRT have arrested 92 armed robbers, 153 kidnappers, rescued 35 kidnapped victims and recovered 7 stolen vehicles in two weeks.

Police also arrested 9 suspected cultists, recovered 44 arms and 477 ammunition of various calibres.

Addressing newsmen on Wednesday,the Force Force Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said, “We have a total of 34 arrested suspects, 7 Ak-47 rifles, 9 automatic pistols, 1804 rounds of live ammunition, a POS Machine, assorted illicit drugs, and 1 Mazda Saloon Car.

He said,the operatives have recorded appreciable efforts in quelling the menace of banditry, kidnapping and other sort of heinous crimes occurring across the country, stating that today’s parade is another day that serves as a testimonial of the endless and relentless efforts of the NPF in the pursuit of justice and apprehension of criminals connected to several forms of crime.

He also assured that, the Police will continue to strengthen our investigative capabilities and collaborate with law enforcement partners,saying, “We remain steadfast in our mission to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of every citizen.

“We are confident that the aggregate of our efforts towards combating crimes, will, in no time, herald a more secure and peaceful Nigeria. We wish to put it on record that the force has recorded remarkable achievements across the country most especially in combating crimes and criminality, managing civil and social challenges like the recent labour protest, rescuing kidnapped victims, busting gun-running syndicates.”

Highlighting the numerous achievements of the Force, Adejobi said, “On 9th of February 2024, operatives of the FID-IRT received intelligence on the activities of a syndicate of Transborder gunrunners operating in Plateau state to other parts of the country and by extension, supplying arms and ammunition to some criminal elements beyond the borders of the country.

“The IRT Operatives utilized this information and arrested the following principal suspects: (1) Mahos Jatau Mancha a.k.a Adis (2) Justin Abugieye a.k.a Austin (3) Joseph Zingkur Ayuba a.k.a Zed (4) Davou Chuwang and (5) Yakubu Benedict Bonat a.k.a VIP.

“During investigation, it came to light that the said Justin Abugieye is a Transborder Arms and ammunition supplier based in Obudu LGA of Cross River State who usually gets supplies of AK47 rifles, ammunition, and rocket launcher from the Mahos Jatau Mancha, Joseph Zingkur Ayuba, Davou Chuwang, Yakubu Benedict Bonat, all in Plateau state and in turn supplies same to some rebels and other criminal elements in a neighboring country.

“One of the suspects, Yakubu Benedict Bonat confessed to have sold 4 Ak-47 rifles to Justin Abugieye, the first which he said belonged to his late father who was a police officer, and he had sold it to Justin instead of handing it over to legal authorities while the others, he had locally fabricated and had sold to Justin.

“Another of the suspects, Ibrahim Maji, happens to be a middleman who was present when Justin had sold 3 Ak-47 rifles to one Shetto Dogo and had collected another Ak-47 rifle and 16 live ammunitions to personally deliver to Shetto Dogo before his apprehension.

“One Lucy Ogar, the fem ale lover and accomplice of Justin who usually accompanies him to take delivery and supply of the arms and ammunition, as well as one Paulina Abugieye, his younger sister who assists him in delivering arms to buyers were also arrested.

“A factory operated by the said Joseph Zingkur Ayuba in his house at Kuru, Jos, Plateau state, where he fabricates arms was also discovered. Another suspect; Davou Chuwang who supplies ammunition to Joseph Zingkur was also arrested and while in custody, he was contacted by Majahid Muhammad Kyari and Buhari Musa who requested to purchase 2 Ak-47 rifles from him.

“They agreed to meet him to inspect the rifles and were immediately arrested by the operatives of the IRT at the agreed meet point. Interrogation revealed that Majahid had earlier been in business with Davou Chuwang and had in the past, purchased 50 rounds of 9mm live ammunition from him and trusted him to deliver this time around also.”

Adejobi gave the full names of the suspects as Mahos Jatau Mancha a.k.a Adis ‘m’; Justin Abugieye a.k.a Austin ‘m’; Joseph Zingkur Ayuba a.k.a Zed ‘m’; Davou Chuwang ‘m’; Yakubu Benedict Bonat a.k.a VIP ‘m’; Ibrahim Maji ‘m; Majahid Muhammad Kyari ‘m’; Buhari Musa ‘m’; Lucy Ogar ‘f’; Paulina Abugieye ‘f’.

Speaking further, the FPRO noted that, the mandate of securing lives and property of the citizens and ridding the country of criminal elements is core to the Police.

He stated that, “The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has charged the men of the Force to remain resolute in discharging their duties and ensuring all necessary measures and strategies are being implemented for a safer environment for everyone.”

admin by — March 7, 2024 in Crime/Metro 0
Alleged Assault On Lawyer:Lagos CP Meets Complainant,Promises Prompt Disciplinary Measures

Mohammed Shosanya

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade,has invited a lawyer, Timothy Olamide Olaniyi,who alleged that a police officer assaulted him within the premises of the Lagos State Command headquarters.

The purpose of the invite is to facilitate appropriate actions on the officer,Benjamin Hundeyin
Police Public Relations Officer
Lagos State Command,said in a statement on Wednesday.

In the statement,Hundeyin claimed that investigations hitherto reveal that the lawyer had the encounter at about 0930 hours with some police officers who came from outside Lagos State to take over suspects arrested for them by the Lagos State Command. These visiting police officers have been summoned for an identification parade to enable the lawyer identify the police officer in question.

The Lagos State Police Command has been in constant touch with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) leadership, especially Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN who leads the Security Agencies Relations Committee (SARC) of the Association,he also said.

According to him,the NBA has been assured that the Command would leave no stone unturned to identify the officer behind the unprofessional act and mete out appropriate sanctions as the alleged misconduct is totally condemned and against the ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.

He added:”The Command uses this medium once again to encourage Lagosians to reach out to the Complaint Response Unit (lagos.npf.gov.ng) or any senior officer (in person or via the already publicised phone numbers) when they have complaints against police action”.

admin by — March 7, 2024 in News 0
Undergraduate Bags One-Year Jail Term For Impersonation,Malpractices

Mohammed Shosanya

A Federal High Court sitting in Akure has convicted an undergraduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba for impersonation and examination malpractice during the conduct of 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In his verdict,the presiding judge, Justice T. Adegoke found the defendant, Adesuyi Feranmi
guilty on two-count charge of conspiracy and examination impersonation.

Justice Adegoke proceeded to convict the defendant to one year imprisonment on Count one and also convicted him on Count two to one year imprisonment.

The conviction would run concurrently.

The court also gave the convict an option of fine of 100,000.00 on count one and another option of fine of 100,000.00 in count two. The total fine is 200,000.00.

Adesuyi, 29years was arrested on April 28th,2023 at Amable Nig Ltd CBT center,Owo during the 2023 UTME in Ondo State while impersonating one Sanusi Tunde at the point of biometric verification exercise.

Following conflicting and mismatch data and testimonials and confession he was handed over to security operative for further investigation and consequently his arraignment.

The charge list said Adesuyi committed an offence of examination malpractice and felony contrary to section 10 of examination malpractices Act,Cap E15, LFN 2004 and punishable under section 3(2)(c) of Examination Malpractice Act,Cap E15 Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

admin by — March 7, 2024 in Law/Human Rights 0